by Ernest Thompson Seton

For this we
need a Nana-bo-jou; that is, a grown-up who can drum and sing. He has a drum and
drumstick, and a straw or paper club; also two goblins, these are good-sized
boys or girls wearing ugly masks, or at least black hoods with two eye holes,
made as hideous as possible; and any number of children, from three or four up,
for animals. If each has the attributes of some bird or beast, so much the
better.

First,
Nana-bo-jou is seen chasing the children around the outside of the circle,
trying to catch one to eat; but failing, thinks he'll try a trick and he says,

"Stop,
stop, my brothers. Why should we quarrel? Come, let's hold a council together
and I will teach you a new dance."

The animals
whisper together and the coyote comes forward, barks, then says:

"Nana-bo-jou,
I am the Coyote. The animals say that they will come to council if you will
really make peace and play no tricks.”

"Tricks!"
says Nana-bo-jou "I only want to teach you the new songs from the
South."

Then all the
animals troop in and sit in a circle. Nana-bo-jou takes his drum and begins to
sing,

"New songs
from the South, my brothers, Dance to the new songs."

Turning to one,
he says:

"Who are
you and what can yon dance?"

The answer is,
"I am the Beaver (or whatever it is) and I can dance the Beaver
Dance."

"Good!
Come and show me how."

So the Beaver
dances to the music, slapping the back of his flat right hand, up and under his
left hand for a tail, holding up a stick in both paws to gnaw it, and lumbering
along in time to the music at the same time imitating the beaver's waddle.

Nana-bo-jou
shouts: "Fine! That is the best Beaver Dance I ever saw. You are wonderful;
all you need to be perfect is wings. Wouldn't you like to have wings so you
could fly over the tree-tops like the eagle?"

"Yes,"
says the Beaver.

"I can
make strong medicine and give you wings, if all the animals will help me,"
says Nana-bo-jou. "Will you?"

"Yes,"
they all cry.

"Then all
close your eyes tight and cover them with your paws. Don't look until I tell
you. Beaver, close your eyes and dance very fast and I will make magic to give
you wings."

All close and
cover their eyes. Nana-bo-jou sings very loudly and, rushing on the Beaver, hits
him on the head with the straw club. The Beaver falls dead. The two goblins run
in from one side and drag off the body.

Then
Nana-bo-jou shouts: "Look, look, now. See how he flies away! See, there
goes the Beaver over the treetops." All look as he points and seem to see
the Beaver going.

Different
animals and birds are brought out to dance their dances and are killed as
before. Then the Crow comes out, hopping, flopping, cawing. Nana-bo-jou looks at
him and says: "You are too thin. You are no good. You don't need any more
wings," and so sends him to sit down.

Then the Coyote
comes out to do the Coyote Dance, imitating Coyote, etc.; but he is very
suspicious and, in answer to the questions, says, "No; I don't want wings.
The Great Spirit gave me good legs, so I am satisfied"; then goes back to
his seat.

Next the Deer,
the Sheep, etc., come out and are killed; while all the rest are persuaded that
the victims flew away. But the Coyote and the Loon have their doubts. They
danced in their turns, but said they didn't want any change. They are satisfied
as the Great Spirit made them.

They are very
slow about hiding their eyes. At last, they peek and realize that it is all a
trap and the Loon shouts: "Nana-bo-jou is killing us! It is all a trick!
Fly for your lives!"

As they all run
away, Nana-bo-jou pursues the Loon, hitting him behind with the club, which is
the reason that the Loon has no tail and has been lame behind ever since.

The Loon shouts
the Loon battle--cry, a high-pitched quavering lul-l-l-o-o-o and faces Nana-bo-jou; the animals rally around the Loon and the Coyote
to attack the magician. All point their fingers at him shouting Wakankan
Seecha" (or Black Magic). He falls dead in the circle. They bury him with
branches, leaves, or a blanket, and all the animals do their dances around him.

Before beginning the story of the dance should be told
to the audience.

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